The Summer Climate in the Val di Fassa

In summer, the mountains are an excellent way to escape the oppressive heat of the lower ground

Many people choose the mountains in the summer: not just to admire the alpine scenery or to try out memorable hikes; they also come here because in this season, the mountains are an excellent way to escape the oppressive heat of the lower ground.

As early as springtime, which begins at the end of May, an explosion of colour arrives with the thaw, as nature begins to awaken from its long winter sleep. June is one of the most beautiful months of the summer, with its pleasant climate and meadows overflowing with flowers. July and August are also splendid months to spend in the mountains, especially for those who suffer from the heat, seeing as it is rare for the temperature at the bottom of the valley to reach +30°C (apart from during the exceptional heat wave of summer 2003). Daytime temperatures are usually around +25°C on average with cool evenings of between +10C° and +15°C. This changes with altitude. In fact, not everyone knows that temperature falls as altitude increases, by an average of 0.6°C every 100 metres; don’t forget this when going out on hikes! In fact, it is not uncommon to set out from the valley bottom (1,200 m) in the middle of August when the temperature is 20°C to then find yourself, for example, on the Antermoia Pass at an altitude of 2,700 m with a temperature of around 10°C!

One of the factors to consider carefully during summer hikes is the possibility of storms, above all in the afternoon. They do not occur every day but they are more likely to form in the mountains compared to other places, often arriving so quickly that there is very little time to seek shelter. For this reason, always check the local weather bulletins and plan your hikes so that you begin your return in the early afternoon. You may find our Dolomiti Meteo site to be useful.

September is often characterised by cooler air currents that lower the temperature by various degrees. This, however, is good for atmospheric stability and clearer skies. In fact, many hikers prefer September for this reason. It is not uncommon to see the first snowfalls in this period, even at the bottom of the valley, as occurred in September 2002 (see the report at www.dolomitimeteo.com). A truly unique sight.

In short, summer in the mountains is wonderful and you certainly won’t suffer the heat. Humidity is practically non-existent and nobody sells air conditioning. Think about it during the next hot spell.